A government planning inspector has turned down plans to build flats next to Chatham's Luton Arches. The scheme proposed four one-bedroom flats on disused land beside the railway bridge in Chatham Hill. The three-storey building featured a tiered design with timber cladding and glazed private balconies, while no car parking was set to be provided. Medway Council refused planning permission in March last year, due to concerns around its "boxy design" and the application's failure to show how it could be a car-free development without impacting road safety. The applicant Yusuf Allyjaun subsequently appealed against Medway Council's decision. However, in a decision notice published last Tuesday (24 January), a planning inspector dismissed the appeal. The inspector agreed with the council that the proposals would "significantly" harm the character and appearance of the area. They also supported the council's judgement that the car-free scheme would affect road safety and the living conditions of neighbouring residents because it would increase the demand for car parking in surrounding streets. In their report the inspector said: "The boxlike design of the proposed building and its prominent siting would... appear as an overly large and bulky addition to the streetscene.
"The modern appearance of the proposed building would be significantly different from the traditional form and modest scale of the surrounding terraces." The inspector also said that the loss of the site's existing trees "would have a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area." Commenting on the issue of car parking, the inspector pointed out that although the need for parking from the development may be small, any additional car parking pressures created in the area would affect road safety. The land, which has advertising hoardings and a derelict storage vault, was previously owned by JCDecaux before it was sold for £50,000 in April 2020. See the inspector's full decision notice by clicking here. A developer has put forward plans for new homes and commercial space in front of Anchorage House in Chatham High Street. Chatham Homes Ltd is seeking planning permission to build 12 flats and six ground floor commercial units on the car park of the former office block. The proposals will create six one-bedroom and six two-bedroom flats, which will have their own private terraces. No car parking spaces and 28 cycle parking spaces will be provided. The proposed block is located within the Sun Pier to Star Hill Conservation Area, and is designed with bricks, slate roofing and zinc dormers. Planning documents say the design "adopts a contemporary design approach that nevertheless references its context, and the local distinctiveness of this part of the conservation area." The documents also say the scheme "would be a significant improvement compared to the current car parking use" and have a "highly positive impact upon the character and appearance of the Sun Pier to Star Hill Conservation Area." Chatham Homes Ltd also owns Anchorage House itself, which is currently in the final stages of being converted to 81 flats after work started nearly two years ago.
The 11-storey block, built in the 1960s, was bought by the developer for £5.2 million in July 2021. It was previously used as offices for the government's HM Revenue and Customs department before closing in around 2016. The office block was then occupied by various organisations such as legal firms and training providers. The latest plans are due to be decided by Tuesday, 21 March. View and comment on the plans by clicking here to visit Medway Council's Planning Portal. |
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